S. African Deputy President Urges ICC To Charge NATO Commanders With War Crimes

Deputy president Kgalema ­Motlanthe on Wednesday voiced his disapproval of the Nato war against Libya calling on the International Criminal Court (ICC) to charge the allied commanders for committing war crimes in that country.

Motlanthe told Parliament yester­day that the Nato alliance was creating an impression that the Libyan rebels were acting on their own, without any military support on the ground.

He said while the ICC targeted Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi and his commanders for war crimes, the prosecutors should also charge Nato for bombing innocent civilians.

His comments may be interpreted as another indication that South Africa was going to have a cold relationship with the rebel movement that is poised to take over the government in Libya.

Motlanthe was in the National Assembly to answer questions from MPs. He said Nato’s bombing of Libya had set a precedent in the functioning of the UN Security Council.